Summertime - Angelique Kidjo

OK I know there’s a myriad of covers of this Gershwin classic, and I already have featured Deep Dive’s version of it on this collection, but this puts a West African twist on the same song, and is beautifully different with its acapella style. As for Angelique Kidjo herself, well, she’s played and toured with legends of pioneers of “World” music including Peter Gabriel and Philip Glass and has won Grammys for her inventive compositions. Even Bono has guested on one of her albums!! Maybe that’s why “Time” magazine described her as “Africa’s premier diva”. And who could doubt why when she climbs into this song? Pure gold.

Fluent in many languages she has a reputation for pushing the envelope of musical boundaries, mixing her African heritage with Brazilian and American styles. As if that’s not enough she’s a UNICEF ambassador and campaigns for OXFAM. Nowadays she’s also Harvard Uni’s Jazz Artist in Residence…

I hope you like this reworking as much as I do! Oh and happy Christmas 2018 coming up…I’ll be playing the best pop song about the festive season really soon – Greg Lake’s “I Believe In Father Christmas.”!!

You can learn more about Angelique Kidjo here:

About the Curator: Richard Parsons

I grew up listening to music from the late 60’s onwards. Pirate pop radio; swapping LP’s with friends; exploring genres; daydreaming over the latest woofer and tweeter.

In reality I spent thirty years imparting imperfect knowledge of English literature and drama to young minds in school. Regrets? No. I loved teaching; loved the interaction with the pupils, and made lifelong friends as a result. And what better way to keep up to date with music? I always played stuff in my lessons, and as a result, I’d be bombarded with suggestions from my flock! “Sir! Have you heard…?”